Here’s the original content produced by the PFR staff this week:
The Titans will try to trade running back Chris Johnson before releasing him, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Johnson does not have any upcoming roster bonuses due, so the Titans could wait all the way until the first week of the regular season to cut without owing him any base salary. Releasing the running back would result in a $4MM cap charge.
It is unclear what the Titans could hope to receive in exchange for Johnson. He once ran for over 2,000 yards, but the was four years ago. He still has elite speed, but he graded out as just the 42nd-best running back in the league last season according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Even if a team was willing to sacrifice a late-round pick for Johnson, it is not going to want to retain him at his current salary levels. A release still seems like the overwhelmingly likely outcome.
The Cardinals are expected to heavily pursue free agent offensive tackle Jared Veldheer, according to Kent Somers of AZCentral.com. The team is looking to improve their offensive line by upgrading at left tackle, where incumbent Bradley Sowell struggled mightily last season. Veldheer, 26, was somewhat surprisingly not franchise-tagged by the Raiders, who have ample cap space and could have aimed to sign him to a long-term contract. Now the Cardinals (whose top target, Branden Albert, will likely sign with the Dolphins) will look to swoop in and sign the young lineman.
Other free agent notes:
With the start of free agency less than 48 hours away, let’s look at the top stories of the past week:
Branden Albert is likely to sign with the Dolphins when free agency officially begins on Tuesday, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Albert, 29, was the Chiefs first-round-pick in 2008, and as Florio notes, was nearly traded to the Dolphins last offseason.
The Dolphins need to rebuild a porous offensive line, and they essentially need four starters to team with center Mike Pouncey. The unit was decimated by the controversies relating to Jonathan Martin and Richie Incognito, neither of whom is expected to return to Miami. The Chiefs, meanwhile, will fill Albert’s shoes at left tackle with either Eric Fisher or Donald Stephenson, with the other manning the right tackle position.
Other news from the AFC:
Free agent receiver Hakeem Nicks has shot down a report that he would consider a short-term deal, perhaps in the one- to two-year range, in an attempt to rehabilitate his value. Rather, he tells ESPN’s Josina Anderson that he wants a long-term contract:
“I want to go to a team where I’m the missing link. There are a number of teams that I have my eye on once I hit the market. I know if I went to a place like Indianapolis I would be dangerous with a quarterback like Andrew Luck. I can see myself catching passes from Cam Newton or even Philip Rivers. Players have already started to reach out to me from other teams saying they would love for me to come join them. I just want to make it clear that I want a long-term deal and I want to be happy. I’m excited about talking to teams and making it work.”
While Nicks may desire a long-term pact, he may not get it. After Nicks sent a letter to all 32 teams claiming he is injury-free, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reported that organizations are more concerned with the receiver’s mental state than his physical struggles. Florio writes that teams wonder if Nicks still has the passion to play football, and these worries might cause reluctancy towards a long-term deal.
Nicks has been ineffective the past two seasons while dealing with injuries. However, between 2010-2011, he averaged 78 receptions for 1,122 yards and nine touchdowns. PFR’s Luke Adams ranked Nicks among the first-tier of free agent receivers, and Rob DiRe also profiled the pass-catcher.
2:20pm: The Jets have officially announced the transaction.
1:47pm: The Jets will release Cromartie, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).
1:43pm: It appears the Jets have cut cornerback Antonio Cromartie, based on tweets by Cromartie himself. The seven-year-veteran sent out two separate messages, first: “I would like 2 thank the Jets organization so much with helpin me grow as leader and a player. S/O 2 my teammates I wish u guys the best.” This was followed by: “I would also like to give a big up to The Jets Fan base. Thank you for all the support thru my 4 yr career with you. Thank you again.”
Cromartie was due to count almost $15MM against the cap in 2014. By releasing him, the Jets will save $9.5MM in cap space. Cromartie’s play suffered greatly in 2013, as he was ranked as the eighth-worst corner in football by Pro Football Focus’ metrics (subscription required).
Jared Allen will not return to the Vikings, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. Allen, 34, spent the past six seasons in Minnesota, after the team acquired him in 2008 from the Chiefs in exchange for a first-round-pick. La Canfora reports that Allen has narrowed his focus to teams that can contend next season, and that his list of preferred organizations contains less than five teams (via Twitter). The Raiders have been mentioned as a potential fit, while the Broncos would also seem to be an ideal match, as they are a veteran-laden squad with Super Bowl aspirations, and have a need at defensive end.
Allen’s play slipped last season, as he graded out as just the 34th-best defensive end in the league according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), although he did finish with 11.5 sacks. The Vikings seemed to have replaced him today by re-signing fellow end Everson Griffen to a five-year pact. The team had already extended defensive end Brian Robison in October.
Other notes from free agency:
The Vikings will sign linebacker Jasper Brinkley to a one-year deal, Fox Sports 1 NFL insider Mike Garafolo reports (via Twitter).
Brinkley played his first four seasons in Minnesota, then spent 2013 in Arizona. His best production came in 2012, when he started 15 games and totaled 97 tackles, three forced fumbles and two passes defensed.
12:41pm: The five-year deal is worth $42.5MM and includes $20MM guaranteed, tweets ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter.
12:38pm: Griffen’s deal will pay him in the upper-echelon of pass-rushers over the first three seasons, per Rapoport (via Twitter).
12:24pm: The Vikings have re-signed defensive end Everson Griffen to a “huge” five-year deal, reports NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter).
A third-round pick from USC in 2010, Griffen has 17.5 sacks in four seasons with Minnesota. He’s played in all 16 games each of the last three years, but started only one contest.
We passed along a link earlier this month that Griffen “badly” wanted to return to Minnesota and that talks were ongoing between the two sides. With Jared Allen set to test the open market and unlikely to return, Griffen becomes the Vikings’ premiere pass rusher.
ProFootballFocus.com rated Griffen as the No. 19 4-3 defensive end in 2013 (subscription required).